Tourists at Auschwitz

[webbhead]

I recently visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. I made a point of going alone, so I could absorb as much as possible about what I was seeing without distraction. To my chagrin, though, I found the camps--especially the main Auschwitz camp--crowded with bus tours and school groups many of whom were carrying on, chatting, laughing, goofing off (some kids especially) as if it were all just a big stroll around a theme park. Should there be limits and/or set times for such groups? Has anyone else had similar experiences while visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau or other H-C related sites?

[webbhead]

This post is probably in the wrong place. Suggest move to Extermination--Auschwitz

[angie999]

I havn't had similar experiences relating to the Holocaust, as I havn't been. I have, though, seen something similar on visits to WWI and WWII locations in France and Belgium.

I think it is very difficult for young people to act like older people, so there is a degree of inevitability. On balance, I think we have to tolerate it as they are the coming generation and need to know what happened.

[Wise1]

I agree, we were all young once and cant in all honesty say we acted with the best intentions at all times despite the scenario.

[Kiwiwriter]

I would not take young kids to Auschwitz.

My daughter is eight. She started asking me about Hitler killing people. I told her about the museum in New York on the subject. I told her she's not going there with me until she's 10.

And then I'm only taking her, and maybe one friend...Vera or Chloe, who have the intelligence and sensitivity to understand what's going on. It might be easier if she has a friend to cry with.

But she has to learn about her heritage. So far I've got her going on the British home front in WW2, and she's fascinated.

How do you explain this butchery to a kid? How do you explain it to an adult?

[spidge]

I helped my youngest daughter with a project on Hitler in grade 6 and she was intrigued by a series she watched at the same time. They in most cases do not have a grasp of the horror's of war let alone the Holocaust.

My two daughters find it difficult to visit their mothers grave at the cemetery, so places like the camps, even though there is no personal involvement would be impossible.

As they grow up they will learn more about these horror's and appreciate why the free peoples of the world had to fight in WW2. The result of a continuing "Hitlers Europe" would have been too much to bear.

[Kiwiwriter]

In my case, Wallis and her pals are different...they're very bright, very sharp, and very interested in learning things, so I think they'd behave in Auschwitz.

But I still would not inflict it on them until they were at least 12. It's tough to take at age 43.

[angie999]

Originally Posted by Kiwiwriter

But I still would not inflict it on them until they were at least 12. It's tough to take at age 43.

And if you plan to do the full visit, including Birkenau, in addition to the emotions involved it could be physically taxing for small children, as it is a big site.

[Marina]

[To my chagrin, though, I found the camps--especially the main Auschwitz camp--crowded with bus tours and school groups many of whom were carrying on, chatting, laughing, goofing off (some kids especially) as if it were all just a big stroll around a theme park. Should there be limits and/or set times for such groups? Has anyone else had similar experiences while visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau or other H-C related sites?[/quote]


With the young, always a little patience! It may be that trips like these should be regarded as sowing seeds in their minds for future thought. They won't forget the place and it is probably true that the camp made more impression on them than would appear.

[Kiwiwriter]

Originally Posted by webbhead

I recently visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. I made a point of going alone, so I could absorb as much as possible about what I was seeing without distraction. To my chagrin, though, I found the camps--especially the main Auschwitz camp--crowded with bus tours and school groups many of whom were carrying on, chatting, laughing, goofing off (some kids especially) as if it were all just a big stroll around a theme park. Should there be limits and/or set times for such groups? Has anyone else had similar experiences while visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau or other H-C related sites?

Kids are never going to take a field trip anywhere as being serious education. It's just a chance to get the heck out of the classroom for a while, not have to do quizzes, and generally goof off.

I had to give tours of the US Antarctic Program's facilities in Christchurch, NZ, and the kids were most interested in my American candy machine, not the Antarctic clothing or volcanic rocks I displayed. One group that came through, 14-16-year-olds from the North Island, was very disrespectful...they trashed the men's room.

We were successful at last year's Holocaust event when we showed videos of the concentration camps and slides of Darfur, with drawings kids did of Sudanese militiamen shooting people and burning homes.